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Raleigh, N.C. — For the 13th consecutive year, as part of Food Lion Hunger Relief Day, those attending the N.C. State Fair on Thursday will receive free admission to the fair with a donation of five cans of Food Lion brand items to benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and other food banks around the state.

In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Food Lion said the relief day is especially important. Food and fund donations help the Food Bank provide emergency and increased assistance to Food Bank partner agencies.

Since 1993, more than 4.6 million pounds of food have been collected at the N.C. State Fair. More than 400 volunteers work each gate at the fair to collect donations throughout the day. Last year fairgoers donated more than 188,000 meals, or 223,542 pounds of food. The goal for this year’s event is to raise 210,000 meals, or 250,000 pounds of food.

If this year’s goal is met, the N.C. State Fair will donate $1,000 to the Food Bank. If donations reach 275,000 pounds, the fair will donate $2,500. If donations reach 300,000 pounds or more, $5,000 will be donated.

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC distributes food to nearly 640,000 individuals in their 34-county service area who live in food insecure households.

Based in Raleigh, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina serves counties in the central and eastern part of the state through six warehouses in Durham, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, Southern Pines and Wilmington and is one of seven Feeding America food banks in the state.